Ever felt you were someplace you don’t belong?

Ever had the distinct feeling that “this is not our home” ?

Here’s is one woman’s story of that exact feeling and how it led her to ask questions about the life of Christ, and ultimately to draw closer to Him. 

A guest post from a reader who does not blog on her own…

My desk phone rang…

Surprise! The person on the other end of the phone was someone I didn’t know…

She wanted me to contact other people I didn’t know and set up a meeting.

If everybody couldn’t meet on the same day, she said to arrange the meeting around the schedule of the most important people.

I had no idea who was most important on the list.

It was all just part of starting a new job. There were people to meet, routines to learn, work to get done.

Every day I learned more.  Every day was easier.  In two or three months, I’d have it all figured out.

That was the catch…In three months the job would be over.  It was a temp job filling in for someone on maternity leave.

Then I’d move on to another temp job and start all over.

I wanted to belong somewhere…

Getting to know people for a few weeks or a few months and moving on makes me feel like an outsider.

I wonder if that is how Jesus felt?

I am not comparing my life circumstances to His….

But these are my thoughts:

• Jesus left heaven, His home where He belonged, to come to earth for a temporary assignment.
• He was rejected by the ruling religious clique as a blasphemer and imposter.
• He was deserted by many when He wouldn’t overthrow the Roman rulers.
• He was denied by his closest followers before he was crucified.
• He was the ultimate outsider, called to accomplish great tasks in a place where he would never belong.

Am I having just a tiny glimpse of how my savior felt while he was here?

Knowing that he would only be here for a little while?

Knowing that He would leave behind those who would accept him, those who would deny Him, and those who would simply forget Him and move on with their own lives?

Before He left, Jesus reminded us that this earth was not His home…

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world…my kingdom is from another place.” John 18:36 (NIV)

He told us that this is not our home, but that we would one day find our real home with Him…

In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 (ASV)

As Paul wrote:

For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come.  Hebrews 13:14-21 (NLT)

Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives. 1 Peter 2:11-12 (MSG)

He told us that we are to follow Him through this world and into the next.

If we follow Him we will walk a path that leads through sorrows and troubles, but ends in the one true life of Glory.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33